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Turkish Press Review, 01-12-19
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Turkish
Press Review >>
Foreign
Press Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
19.12.2001
CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT TO VISIT THE US
[02] ECEVIT EVALUATES RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING AFGHANISTAN AND CYPRUS
[03] SPAIN: "WE WILL BROADEN TURKEY'S HORIZONS"
[04] YILMAZ: "NO ELECTIONS BEFORE 2004"
[05] CILLER: "ELECTIONS ARE THE ONLY SOLUTION"
[06] BAD WEATHER WREAKS HAVOC
[07] YUCELEN FLIES TO GERMANY
[08] SIR HANNAY BOOSTS MORALE ON CYPRUS
[09] TURK: "FAMILY COURTS WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN 2002"
[10] RUMSFELD: "SUPPORT TURKEY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM"
[11] IMF: "TURKISH ECONOMY WILL GROW BY 4.1% NEXT YEAR"
[12] WORLD BANK LOAN
[13] TURKEY SIGNS AIRBUS A400M PROJECT
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[15] HOW CLOSE ARE WE? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] ECEVIT TO VISIT THE US
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will pay an official visit to Washington at
the invitation of President George W. Bush in mid-January. At a press
conference yesterday, US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said
that Afghanistan would be the main topic on the agenda during Ecevit's
visit. Boucher added, "There are many issues to be discussed with
theTurkish Premier, including Iraq, the Middle East and European Security
and Defense Policy (ESDP)." /Hurriyet-Turkiye/
[02] ECEVIT EVALUATES RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING AFGHANISTAN AND CYPRUS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit made remarks concerning Turkey's role in
Afghanistan, Cyprus and economic crisis in an interview he gave to
newspaper Cumhuriyet. Stating that Turkey would play an active role in
Afghanistan, Ecevit said, "We'll contribute to the initiatives to form an
Afghan national army. Turkey will stand by Afghanistan not for its own
interests, but for the benefit of all Afghan people." Ecevit stated that
Turkey would send troops to Afghanistan in the upcoming days and added he
would present a comprehensive dossier to the US administration on the
issue. "Turkey will help Afghanistan both revive its national values and re-
establish its national institutions," said Ecevit. "We believe Afghanistan
will then be able to end its domestic struggles, and sustain peace and
stability." Responding a question on the recent situation on Cyprus, Ecevit
said that he believed a permanent solution could be reached if the parties
were left alone without anybody interfering. In addition, Ecevit also
stated that he was hopeful about the new year and added that he believed
Turkish economy would recover soon. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] SPAIN: "WE WILL BROADEN TURKEY'S HORIZONS"
Spanish Foreign Minister Joseph Pique declared yesterday his country's
program concerning the EU Term Presidency which will begin on Jan. 1, 2002
and last for six months. In a press conference in Brussels, pointing to
EU's enlargement process, Pique said that the accession process of ten
countries, supposed to complete EU fullmembership negotiations in 2002, was
demanding. Adding that Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey should not feel
themselves excluded, he said, " We will bring a fresh breath of air for
Turkey's fullmembership negotiations and will broaden its horizons."
Regarding the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDI), Pique remarked
that there were still certain problems and everything would be done to
overcome them. /Turkiye/
[04] YILMAZ: "NO ELECTIONS BEFORE 2004"
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and State Minister Mesut Yilmaz said
yesterday that Turkey would not gain anything by early elections. Answering
journalists' questions in Rize where he paid a visit on the occasion of
Ramadan Bayram, Yilmaz said, "The coalition government will continue to
rule the country until 2004. The Constitution foresees elections every five
years. We will complete our term. Elections before April 2002, do not serve
Turkey's interests. Our government will continue to cary out the economic
program until this date." /Turkiye/
[05] CILLER: "ELECTIONS ARE THE ONLY SOLUTION"
Addressing a ceremony held in her party's Istanbul Province Chairmanship on
the occasion of Ramadan Bayram, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller
said, "We have good news for our citizens, we will bring the ballot box in
front of the nation. The solution lies with the DYP." She added, "Citizens
may discontented with Turkey's current situation. However, don't lose hope
from its future. Because, we are ready to come to power." /Turkiye/
[06] BAD WEATHER WREAKS HAVOC
Bad weather conditions paralyzed life in Turkey during the Ramadan Holiday.
While heavy rainfall and floods affected Western and Mediterrenean
provinces, Thrace region was hit by snow. Snow which continued to fall
during the holiday, wreaked havoc especially in Edirne, Kirklareli and
Tekirdag. Schools remain closed in many provinces and towns in Marmara and
Thrace regions. Snow and cold weather also hit Istanbul. Ships over 200
meters in length were not allowed through the Bosphorus. /All Papers/
[07] YUCELEN FLIES TO GERMANY
Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen traveled to Germany yesterday to be
the official guest of his German counterpart Otto Schilly. Speaking to
press before his departure at the Esenboga Airport, Yucelen said that he
would hold a number of meetings with German officials who would brief him
on the issue of extradition of the Union of Islamic Communities leader
Metin Kaplan's. Yucelen remarked that fighting against organized crime,
drug and human trafficking and terrorism was a matter which exceeded beyond
the borders of the nation-states. Stating that more incorporate efforts
were needed to bolster the international cooperation in the aftermath of
the Sept. 11, Yucelen said, "Both Germany and Turkey seek new opportunities
to boost their cooperation regarding the issues threatening their security,
" said Yucelen. "What will be on the spotlights during my meetings in
Germany is the fight against terrorism." Among the main issues to be
discussed are deportation of Metin Kaplan and improving bilateral
cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
/Cumhuriyet/
[08] SIR HANNAY BOOSTS MORALE ON CYPRUS
Britain's Special Envoy to Cyprus Sir David Hannay visited Cyprus yesterday
and met with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf
Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides. Hannay also met with
Greek and Turkish Cypriot political representatives to boost morale on the
island before the face-to-face meetings between Clerides and Denktas.
Political representatives argued that the European Union should re-evaluate
the newly emerging atmosphere on the island, which is full of new hopes and
promises, and should give its full support to both parties in their efforts
to reach a permanent solution on the island. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] TURK: "FAMILY COURTS WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN 2002"
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that there is a new structuring in
the judicial system and that the family courts would be established in
2002. Turk said, "There will be judges who will guide the married couples
with their advice at the family courts. Similarly, sociologists and
psychologists will serve as deputy judges." /Sabah/
[10] RUMSFELD: "SUPPORT TURKEY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM"
US Defense Minister Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday that Turkey should be
supported in the fight against terrorism. Rumsfeld also said that " no
decision need to be taken by the United Nations for any operation other
than Afghanistan." Addressing NATO defense ministers, Sabahattin
Cakmakoglu, Turkish Defense Minister, stated that Turkey for many years was
fighting against terrorism and would continue its fight until the problem
is solved.
/H�rriyet/
[11] IMF: "TURKISH ECONOMY WILL GROW BY 4.1% NEXT YEAR"
IMF's report entitled "World Economic Outlook" stated that Turkish economy
is expected to grow by 4.1% next year and that the yearly inflation rate is
to be 46.4%. The report also pointed out the negative effects of the Sept.
11 attacks and that Turkey also had its share from these effects. The IMF
report also noted that the Turkish economy will shrink by 6.1% and the
inflation rate will be 53.9% in average in 2001. /Milliyet/
[12] WORLD BANK LOAN
Turkish Work Institution (ISKUR) is initiating the Privatization Social
Support Project in order to re-employ 32,000 people, who are the victims of
economic crisis and privatization. A loan amounting to $4.8 million will be
received for this project, for which the World Bank will give a loan
amounting to a total of $250 million. If the project can be implemented
rapidly and effectively, this amount might be increased to $10 million. All
the necessary agreements and bureaucratic procedures have been completed
and project implementation documents have been prepared so the project
resources can begin to be used. /Milliyet/
[13] TURKEY SIGNS AIRBUS A400M PROJECT
Turkey signed the Airbus A400M project, which is considered as one of the
most important elements of European defense in the future. Turkey has a
share of 5.6% in the project, which covers a total of 196 planes. As part
of this, Turkish Aviation Industry facilitaties will contribute to the
production of A400M planes by 6.7%. The number of planes that Ankara
ordered was determined as 10. /Milliyet/
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[15] HOW CLOSE ARE WE? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on Turkish-EU relations. A summary of his
broadcast is as follows:
" The EU stance displayed at the Laeken summit can be regarded as a holiday
gift.
In the Laeken declaration released last Saturday, two points reflecting EU
views regarding Turkey were stated. First, there was the paragraph which
mentioned that the time to begin accession negotiations with Turkey was
getting closer. Second, a decision was made which envisaged Turkey's equal
participation in the convention to form the future of EU. What may be
reason behind such a stance? How close is Turkey to EU today? There are a
series of factors in reaching such a point in relations with the EU. Among
these factors, there is the determination displayed by Turkey in carrying
out certain reforms, including the amendments to the Constitution, and the
efforts it exerted for the resumption of talks in in Cyprus and reaching an
agreement on ESDP can be cited. The EU circles view these developments as
displaying the seriousness of Turkey's intention to integrate with the
EU. In addition, there are two other factors regarded as important by the
EU, such as the increasing geostrategic importance of Turkey following the
Sept. 11 attacks. Europeans are taking the role Turkey wants to play as an
important world power into consideration. Meanwhile, the EU is trying to
complete the negotiation process with 10 countries within the enlargement
plan. The trend to consider Turkey together with Romania and Bulgaria is
gaining ground. Even if it may be stated in the EU declaration that
Turkey's membership process is getting closer, Turkey should not take it
for granted. Furthermore, no certain date has been pronounced. If the
factors leading EU to declare its new intention are still there, that is,
if Turkey continues its reform policies, carries out the expected changes,
and if progress is seen in the Cyprus problem, the decision to begin
membership accession talks may be issued at the end of 2002 or at the
beginning of 2003. It is a great opportunity to have Spain as term pesident
during the first six months of the new year. In brief, how close we are to
our goal will be determined by continuing to display the same resolution
and speed we have shown recently."
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